After
you’ve finished writing your memoir, develop your book’s Front Matter, those important
documents you’ll place at the beginning of your book.
The
task can be daunting. “The part of a book that most confuses new independent
authors . . . is the front matter,” writes Joel Friedlander.
But
we’re here to help you!
Keep
in mind that a book’s front matter can include a variety of pages, each serving
a different purpose. Below I’ll explain some of your options. (See more at
“Front Matter: What It Is and Why It Is Important”.)
Many
people begin with a Half Title Page—that is, only the name of your memoir. The
subtitle and the author’s name don’t appear on the Half Title Page.
The
Title Page will include your memoir’s full title, including its subtitle, and
the author’s name. If you’ve used an illustrator, his name also goes on your Title
Page.
If
you’re self-publishing, you’ll need to create a Copyright Page. You’ll find
everything you need to know at “What is the difference between a preface, a foreword, and an introduction?” This is a valuable resource for you and it
includes much more than info on Prefaces, Forewords, and Introductions. Scroll
down to “What goes on the copyright page?”
The
next page will be your Dedication Page, where you name those for whom you’ve
written your story. (See last week’s post, “Your memoir needs a book dedication.”)
Consider
adding an Epigram or Epigraph to your Dedication Page. An Epigram/Epigraph is a
saying or quote that pertains to what your readers will discover. It can be a
parable, proverb, quotation, Bible passage, or something clever. It can be a
line from a poem, an adage, a maxim, a witticism, a precept, or a prayer. (See
examples in last week’s post, “Your memoir needs a book dedication.”)
Next,
develop your Table of Contents (optional). If your memoir is a collection of
essays or chapters, you will have given them titles. If so, list them for
readers and include page numbers.
If
you want to include a FOREWORD (note the correct spelling), place it after the
Table of Contents. You, the author, do not write the Foreword—someone else
does, someone of your choosing, someone who can speak with authority and who assures
readers they can trust you and your writing. You’ll appreciate this article: “How Do I Get A Foreword For My Book?”
An
optional Preface appears after the Foreword. Learn more about Prefaces at:
- “What is a Preface: Definition and Tips for Writers”
- “How to Write a Preface . . . .”
- “What is the difference between a preface, a foreword, and an introduction?”
Another
optional feature is a Timeline. Why? Think back: You have a good grasp of the
order of your life’s events. Probably your kids do, too, but how about your
grandchildren and great-grandchildren? And other readers? They probably won’t
have a clue.
If you
arrange your memoir in a non-chronological order, or if you have flashbacks or
insert backstory, a Timeline can be a helpful tool for readers. Your goal is to
make it easy for them to follow along with you. A Timeline can clear up
anything that confuses readers or hinders your stories’ messages.
Keep your Timeline
simple—a list with dates should work, or you could create a horizontal line
across two facing pages with key dates marked.
Some
authors include an Introduction and/or a Prologue in their Front Matter, but technically
neither is part of Front Matter—they’re part of the Main Body of the book. Think of your
Introduction as writing a letter to your readers. State why you wrote your
story. You might want to explain how and why you chose your title. Tell readers
what you hope they’ll discover in your book. Make it personal. Humor is good.
Love is a must.
Frank
P. Thomas has this good advice: “Avoid making any apologies in your Introduction
for your life, for your writing, or for anything else. You are better than you
think. So be positive” (How To Write The Story of Your Life).
Read more
about Introductions at “What is the difference between a preface, a foreword, and an introduction?” and “Forewords, Prefaces, and Introductions: Where to Begin?”
A Prologue
gets the reader ready to begin Chapter One. It might include your memoir’s
setting, date, and other background information. A Prologue can help readers
settle into your story—which makes it more likely they’ll read your memoir all
the way to the end. However, consider the pros and cons of including a Prologue:
Click on “The Great Debate: To Prologue
or Not to Prologue?” See also “Does My Memoir Need a Prologue?” and “When to Use a Prologue.”
Composing
your memoir’s Front Matter can be a huge task, but if you persist and work with
today’s resources, you should do fine. Also, in conclusion:
This
blog post by Joel Friedlander is a valuable resource for you when crafting all your
Front Matter: “How to Organize Your Book’s Front Matter.”
I
highly recommend you use “What is the difference between a preface, a foreword, and an introduction?” as you compile your memoir’s Front Matter. In writing my
memoir, I referred to this article many, many times. It contains much more than
info on prefaces, forewords, and introductions. It’s a long article so keep scrolling
down. It’s a rich, rich resource!
Have
fun!
